Palladino Honda

March 12, 2018

Written By: Patricia H

March 12, 2018

Written By: Patricia H

March 10, 2018

Written By: Snow L

March 10, 2018

Written By: Snow L

March 09, 2018

I purchased a used 2009 Accord from Palladino Honda about 3 months ago. The car was in great shape, and the price was reasonable, however, the salesperson was dishonest with me. When I initially went to test drive the vehicle, the key would not turn in the ignition. It was played off as if the key/fob had a dead battery which would not allow me to turn it, so he handed me a generic looking Honda key, which I assumed was some type of spare, which worked just fine. At the time, I didn't think anything of it and the car ran great during testing. Approximately a week later, I pulled the trigger and bought the car. They prepped and detailed my vehicle, and handed me the keys. It was at this point, the salesperson decided to tell me that the key fob for this vehicle did not work, likely because the ignition was changed at some point, and the previous owner did not replace the door locks. This means my door locks and trunk would have to be opened manually and I would need a key to unlock doors, and a second key for the ignition. For some people, this might seem like a minor issue, but the fact that he did not disclose the ignition change and the non-working fob when I tested the car, was very disappointing and not something you want to be told when you're picking up your vehicle for the first time. Luckily, I intended on getting a car starter installed, and Mike's Car Audio was able to configure the starter to unlock my doors and my trunk. Approximately a month later, I received a letter in the mail regarding a recall notice for my vehicle, This didn't bother me as it was just for an airbag replacement, however, what transpired at the dealership when I went in for the repair was infuriating. Because of the age of my vehicle, it didn't qualify for warranty coverage when I bought it, which I completely accepted, however, they blatantly took advantage of this fact and tried to extort $900 from me when I went in for my recall fix. As I waited for the airbag replacement at the dealership, a person working at the service desk approached me to tell me that my vehicle required some additional repairs, and she played it off as if they were urgent. I was told that one of my ball joints was "splitting" and that my bushings would need to be replaced, totaling approximately $900 for parts and labor. I had only had the vehicle for 60 days, and before buying the vehicle, the salesperson had told me it was "Palladino Certified". Naturally, being told that I already needed a ball joint replacement this early did not sit well with me, and I asked if I could go see the vehicle on the hoist and talk to the mechanic. When I got there, the mechanic tried showing me the "damage" that he was referring to. Truthfully, I'm not an expert when it comes to vehicles, but what he showed me was not very convincing and didn't look particularly bad. I also asked him why he was compelled to put my car on the hoist for an airbag replacement, which he explained was because of a "bumping sound" he heard when he pulled my car into the garage. I had never heard this bumping sound prior to this. When I asked him about the severity of the issue, he told me I could hold out until my next oil change, which is definitely different from the desk clerk's assessment. They asked me if I wanted to book a time to get these repairs done, but I held off as I was suspicious, and would never get work done on my vehicles at an actual dealership, given the stigma that surrounds it. I held out and went to Furlani's Auto Repair on Lorne street for a second opinion. They put my car up on the hoist immediately, and within 20 minutes, I had 3 mechanics in the shop validating my suspicions, telling me that there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with my car. They didn't even charge me for their time. Big thanks to Rod Furlani and his team for their honesty and for saving me $900. I bought a Honda because I genuinely think they make a good vehicle, and I have nothing bad to say about the brand. I come from a family who buys a lot of Hondas, including my parents, brother, uncle... the list goes on. Rest assured, they are all aware of how I was treated. This was my first car, and I absolutely love it, but I will never buy a Honda from this dealership, or recommend them to anyone who is in the market for a vehicle.

Written By: Mat M

March 08, 2018

Written By: Christopher E

March 08, 2018

Written By: Christopher E

March 07, 2018

Written By: Megan-Ashley B